Arizona– The Giants continued their second half hot streak Saturday, whooping the Diamondback 10-4. Pitcher Madison Bumgarner is proving the hype and shined in his outing Saturday. Bumgarner picked up his fourth straight win, pitching seven innings, striking out seven, and only allowing two runs. Bumgarner also helped his own cause Saturday, drawing a walk, scoring a run, and completing a sacrifice bunt to moving teammates to second and third. Bumgarner has been just what the Giants needed, a solid fifth starter.
Madison Bumgarner didn’t do it all by himself Saturday, as the young lefty got plenty of help from his teammates. Aubrey Huff plated a run in the first, scoring Edgar Renteria, and giving Bumgarner the boost he needed. The Giants weren’t done their, as they put double digits in the run column. In the fifth Renteria drove in Bumgarner and then super rookie Buster Posey did what he does best and busted up Arizona pitching, knocking a single and scoring Andres Torres. Posey went 2-3 on the day with two walks, he also scored a run. This brings the budding superstar’s hit streak to 17 games, second all time in Giants history. Fans in the Bay Area are catching Buster fever, as they should.
Juan Uribe put the game away for the Giants in the seventh inning, hitting his thirteenth homer on the year. This was a grand slam and put the Giants up 7-1 at the time. Torres, Renteria, and Huff all drove in runs in the eighth to solidify yet another great performance for the Giants. The squad is now 8-2 since the All-Star break, and believe it or not, are in the lead for the Wild Card at the moment. Yes, as of today, the Giants are in the playoffs. With 64 games to go, every one is crucial, but with the team chemistry through the roof right now, the Giants are in control of their destiny.
Tim Lincecum takes the mound today, looking to complete the sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:10 p.m. Lincecum will be going for snake eyes, win number 11 on the year. Lincecum will pitch against Barry Enright, clearly Lincecum will have the mental edge.
On a scary note, Eugenio Velez was struck in the head by a Pat Burrell foul-ball in the fourth inning. Velez was rushed to the hospital where he stayed the night. Velez appears to be fine but will make a trip to the DL until the cob webs clear.
On another note, Pablo Sandoval will miss a few games to attend to personal business in his native Venezuela. Pablo will be missed, but maybe the journey will focus him for the last two months of the season.
On a bright note, announcer Jon Miller will be inducted in to the baseball Hall of Fame this afternoon in Cooperstown. What a delight for Miller and the Giants.
Go Giants.
